New FSU football coach Willie Taggart to Bobby Bowden: ‘I need you over my shoulder’

Willie Taggart/@CoachTaggart on Twitter

New Florida State coach Willie Taggart poses for a photo during his first meeting with legendary Seminoles coach Bobby Bowden at Bowden's home in Tallahassee on Thursday, Feb. 22, 2018.

New Florida State coach Willie Taggart poses for a photo during his first meeting with legendary Seminoles coach Bobby Bowden at Bowden's home in Tallahassee on Thursday, Feb. 22, 2018. (Willie Taggart/@CoachTaggart on Twitter)

As new Florida State football coach Willie Taggart continues working to endear himself to members of the school’s community, he met the most prominent figure in the school’s history on Thursday.

Taggart visited legendary Seminoles football coach Bobby Bowden at his home — marking the first meeting between the current and former FSU coaches.

Taggart, who grew up a lifelong FSU football fan, already knew what Bowden has meant to the program he is hoping to revive after one of its worst seasons in recent memory.

But after recently watching Bowden’s documentary, ‘The Bowden Dynasty,’ Taggart knew he had to connect directly with the program’s most historic figure to bridge the gap between the old and new era of Seminoles football.

Bowden was also eager to meet Taggart in person, after speaking for the first time over the phone earlier this month.

“I’ve been wanting to meet him since he’s been hired,” Bowden said Friday morning. “It was very good to have him come by. We had a very nice visit, and I liked him.”

Taggart took longtime defensive tackles coach Odell Haggins and new offensive line coach Grey Frey — who both played under Bowden — along for the visit, sharing moments he will cherish for the rest of his coaching career and life.

Together, they reminisced about the old days of FSU football, which featured Bowden becoming one of the sport’s most accomplished coaches from 1976-2009.

“He liked to talk about old times at Florida State,” Bowden said of Taggart. “You could hardly say anything about a former player the last 25 years that he didn’t know about.”

Watching Bowden’s documentary made Taggart appreciate Florida State rise to the national stage.

But more important, it made Taggart realize he needed Bowden’s presence around campus more than ever as he continues to set the foundation for his first season with the Seminoles.

“I just wanted Coach Bowden to know he’s always welcome at our football building and our practice field — whenever he wants to [come,]” Taggart said.

“He don’t even have to call. He can show up, and we’ll give him a parking space and a golf cart to ride around on — whatever he needs.

“This is his program. This is what he built. And I think it’s only right he’s able to do that whenever he wants to and come around.”

Taggart hopes Bowden takes him up on the offer.

Taggart wants his players to truly grasp what Bowden has meant to the program and its history.

And Taggart insists he would not mind a coaching tip or two from a chirping Bowden on the sidelines along the way.

“He appreciated it,” Taggart said when asked about extending the olive branch to Bowden.

“He said, ‘I don’t want to be over your shoulder,’ and I said, ‘I need you over my shoulder, Coach. I don’t have a big ego or anything. I just want you around.’

“But I just think it’s right that he comes around, and it’s right for our players to see and know all about Coach Bowden and what he’s all about. A lot of the things they have now are because of what happened back then.

“I just think it’s right for everyone for him to be around.”

Bowden, who has kept his distance from Florida State in recent years, sensed the eagerness in Taggart’s offer.

And Bowden took it to heart.

“He wanted me to come out and visit with him any time I wanted to. He seemed kinda anxious for me to come out there. And I’ll do that eventually,” Bowden said.

“I’ll eventually do that. I’ve stayed home, away from there purposely because I didn’t want the coach to think I was looking over his shoulder. I told that to Willie, and he said ‘I want you looking over mine.’

“It shows he appreciated the things that we did.”

Taggart, who assumed the coaching job in December, is tasked with helping FSU return to ACC and national prominence after its 7-6 campaign last season under former coach Jimbo Fisher. The team got off to a 2-5 start, the worst since Bowden’s first season in 1976.

During his introductory press conference, Taggart shared his affection for former FSU players he watched as a fan and recalled wishing he could be a Seminoles player himself.

Taggart said he did not give Bowden a hard time for not recruiting him.

“I think it worked out well for the both of us,” Taggart said with a laugh.

Taggart is thankful his career path has brought him to Florida State. And he’s happy to have Bowden’s support for his new journey as Seminoles coach.

“To see the smile on his face when we came over there, that was big time for me,” Taggart said. “Knowing he really appreciated us going over to see him.”

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FSU’s Terance Mann recaps the Seminoles' comeback victory in the NCAA tournament over Xavier, leading to the team's first Sweet 16 since 2011.

FSU’s Terance Mann recaps the Seminoles' comeback victory in the NCAA tournament over Xavier, leading to the team's first Sweet 16 since 2011.

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FSU’s Terance Mann recaps the Seminoles' comeback victory in the NCAA tournament over Xavier, leading to the team's first Sweet 16 since 2011.

FSU’s Terance Mann recaps the Seminoles' comeback victory in the NCAA tournament over Xavier, leading to the team's first Sweet 16 since 2011.

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